Hi all, i have just returned from prowling the streets with a few ideas i have had for this months assignment. I must say if i get anything done this month will consider myself lucky. This is the first time i have been out of a night and felt extremely exposed and uneasy. In fact, i never ventured too far from my car. I was embarrassed setting up my tripod, there were quite a few people around, so it was not as if i was entirely alone, but i worried in case some shouted out, and any more than 3 people in a group (even if they were girls) i was very aware of them. I have never felt like this before. Sure sometimes in daylight i may feel embarrassed at being spotted taking a photo of someone, but the darkness is a different ball game. I will try and go out again firework night, then there are hundreds of people milling around at the local park display (which i went to last year, on my own, and never worried at all) but trying to do something different, and i am suddenly a very nervous person. Maybe, its a woman thing.

I hope you keep pushing it though! I thought your black-umbrella shot in last month's assignment was the absolute very best in a group of fine pictures to begin with, so I'm looking forward to seeing what you can come up with!

Just got back from a fireworks display, where I was given a multicoloured glowstick necklace from someone. Don't know how I ended up with it, but when I did I thought I might be able to get some cool shots. Got some surprisingly good photos.I used a 5 second shutter speed and f22. When I tried using anything around f10 the colours just blurred into one massive light, due to the long shutter speed. However with f22 the colours remained separate and gave a really nice glow. Would upload it here but I think it is against the rules.

Will see what else I get this month and use the glow stick as a back up.

I understand what youre feeling Naniani, i think its not just a woman thing. Its quite strange to shoot alone in the evening, especially when there are people around looking at you.
I always shoot with a group of friends for evening shots, its a lot more fun and makes strangers around see that we are hobbyists looking for a good shot.

Congratulations! You are the first entrant to make use of the rule change allowing entries to be 1024 pixels across - I'm ignoring the fact that some entrants in prior competitions have chosen to ignore our previous size limit.